Abbey-Roads2

Is Bush a war monger?

President Bush has been building up the rhetoric and stoking the fears that Iran is getting nuke ready, and something has to be done to stop them.  Is he preparing us for another war?  Some Born-Agains and Evangelicals think an Armageddon in the Mid-East will hasten the Second Coming of Christ.  (I don’t think it is good idea to tempt God.)  Western Confucian has a brief post on the subject of Bush’s paranoia, with excellent links.  I think you should read it.  (The post is titled, “Stop the next war, end the current one.”  )

“It’s time we put the flame torch to their keep

Burn down the mission
If were gonna stay alive
Watch the black smoke fly to heaven
See the red flame light the sky” - Lyrics; Bernie Taupin, “Tumbleweed Connection”

Share This

Would we have paid any attention to him?

I sometimes wonder.  What if we lived back then with the equivalent level of affluence and comfort that many of us have today in the United States?  What if we, like the Romans, who were well groomed, civilized - accustomed to finery and leisure - not that those times were so luxurious - lived as contemporaries with Christ?  Or what if we were the friends of Herod, finely attired, living rather well - equivalent to how many of us live today?  I suppose this is similar to imagining if Jesus lived amongst us as a contemporary Middle Eastern man today- the question is, would we like him, would we be attracted to him?

We often see images of Jesus with nearly blonde hair, neatly coiffured.  Although he is depicted in Middle Eastern dress, he is normally shown as an appealing and good looking man, an image very palatable to Western tastes.  As Catholics, we know he is truly present, living with us in the Blessed Sacrament, and our image of him is influenced by the art we have been accustomed to, hence we may imagine him thus.  There is certainly nothing wrong with that, to be sure.  Of course human talent could never reproduce his glorious beauty, therefore we depict him in the best way we can, based upon early icons and sacred miraculous images.

Yet how would we have reacted to him in his humanity, when he walked the earth amongst men?  Though Isaiah writes of the Suffering Servant, he does describe Jesus as we might have experienced him, “There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him.  He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity.  One of those from whom men hide their faces…” (Is. 53) 

I often think about that.     

Share This

Praying for enemies.

When we pray for our enemies, it doesn’t mean we are trying to make them like us, or even treat us better, much less  get them to be our friend.  In some cases, we have all we can do to think a kind thought in their regard.  We may be ‘filled with contempt and the proud man’s disdain’ (Ps. 122) - or we may be humiliated, hurt, and suffering because of our enemy’s actions.  As a result, we can feel entirely devoid of any love for them, held captive by our remembrance of wrongs committed against us.

To pray for one’s enemies is a tremendous, generous work of mercy - it may even be better than fasting on bread and water.  This prayer causes us to participate in God’s merciful love and providence, “He who makes the sun shine on the good and the bad.”   More deeply, what this prayer does is opens our own heart to healing, immersing our souls in God’s love.  Oftentimes, the more disinterested the prayer, the more the prayer seems to soften our hearts, moving us to excuse and even pardon the other person, and to no longer wish them evil, but to hope for their good - content not to see results if need be.

Indeed, we may not see any immediate or obvious change in our enemy, but we often  see a change in our self, especially in the experience of pardon and peace.  When you find yourself unable to forgive, pray for your enemies. 

(Art: Giotto; St. Francis renouncing his patrimony.)

Share This

“Back to the rivers of belief”- Enigma 

I have always gone back and forth on the Medjugorje thing.  I’ve often  said I was open to the apparitions although not particularly attracted to them, and I’m content to wait for the judgement of the Church in the matter.  I don’t know if it is the correct term to use, but it seems to me some people tend to ’objectify’ such events, sometimes exercising a sort of unrestrained appetite for mystical phenomena - which is why I try to mortify my curiosity about stuff like that.

In my personal discernment process regarding the apparitions, I’ve never understood the need for a “permanent and industructable sign” to be left at the site of the apparitions.  I have said as Catholics we already have the preeminent sign of the Eucharist, therefore why do we require another sign? 

However, I came across something online today, which changed my understanding, it is from one of the first messages of Medjugorje.  The seers were told that Christians already do have the signs they need to believe and convert their lives.  (Which is what I’ve said.)  The sign to be left at Medjugorje, though able to be seen by all, will be primarily for unbelievers and athiests, so they can believe and be converted.  The message went on to explain that these events were inaugurated as a period for the faithful to deepen their faith and convert.  That makes more sense to me.

Nevertheless, I’ll wait for the decision of the Church, hopefully my personal efforts at conversion are pleasing to God. 

Share This

Herod and the martyrdom of the Baptist.

The Gospel tells us Herod feared John, “knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.”  Which suggests that he had a great respect for the prophet as well.  We are told “When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.”  Thus we know Herod admired John, and loved to listen to his preaching, perhaps enthralled with his wisdom and inspired by his spirituality.  Nevertheless, his conscience must have been uneasy at some of what John taught, and not just with the reprimand John gave as regards Herod’s adultery.  It seems to me if Herod had not been in an irregular relationship condemned by John, he perhaps would have been one of John’s converts. 

Obviously it was his self-indulgence and worldly cares that got the better of him, despite his liking for religious things and his brand of  idiorhythmic spirituality.  A man ruled by his lusts, anxious for the respect of men, he beheaded the Baptist because of a rash promise.  He eliminated his adversary.  Imprisoning John couldn’t silence him, or reverse the condemnation of Herod’s inordinate affections - it couldn’t change the fact that Herod was publicly living a sinful life.  Herod couldn’t amend God’s law.  The martyrdom of John verified the Truth even more explicitly, and revealed how debauched and pathetic the deluded Herod really was.  With the Baptist gone, Herod’s adultery went unchallenged, and a false freedom of conscience reigned in his court.

Compromise.

Today we have Catholics - many of whom are  out and out ‘dissidents’, who have the form of religion - in fact they love religion, theology and spirituality, with all the degrees to prove it - yet Church teaching and authority gets in the way of their lifestyle or agenda.  Their power is not absolute - so they can’t behead anyone who contradicts them.  Instead they work to twist the truth, preserving elements of what ‘works’ for their purposes, and strive to justify their immorality through compromise.

The preaching of John the Baptist, the message of Christ and the Gospel, now transmitted through the Church, is a call to repentance and conversion.  It isn’t an affirmation of sinful lifestyles and habits at variance with Natural Law and the Commandments.  We as individuals are called to change our lives, we cannot change God or His Law to suit ourselves.  No matter how intricate our theology, how enlightened our spirituality, or how much we enjoy liturgy and religious things, there is an obedience we owe to God, without regard to human respect.

Impenitence.

I find it interesting that Herod continued to be fascinated by religion after the death of John, which is demonstrated by his curiosity about Jesus.  He was anxious to see Jesus after Pilot sent the Lord to him during the Passion.  He was hoping to see some miracle.  Yet the blood of John sealed his heart in impenitence, and he was unable to recognize Christ - he couldn’t perceive even a glimmer of Christ’s holiness.  It is kind of frightening.

I think some people love religion, without loving the Truth.

Share This

Politically correct = a double standard. 

The title of the post is a line spoken by Maggie Smith’s character in the movie “Tea With Mussolini.”  She had been dissapointed in Mussolini’s broken promises and treatment of herself and her companions in the war.  I found myself repeating the same line after I read how John Klein, the Chancellor of NYC Public Schools (pictured) is planning on opening an all-Muslim public school.  The school is due to open Sptember 4 of this year.  The plans are being challenged, but what is he thinking?

Where is the ACLU in this?  What about separation of Church and State?  You can’t even display a Christmas creche in NYC public schools, yet they can open a Muslim public school?  The scary part of it is who is on the advisory board for the proposed school.  From the CNA article:

“Some of the school’s promoters have ties to questionable Islamic organizations, including the Council of American Islamic Relations. The group’s founder and chairman publicly stated in 1998: “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith but to become dominant. The Quaran should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth.”

Imam Talib Abdul-Rashid of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood is on the school’s advisory board. The Muslim Brotherhood website contains the ominous slogan: “The Qu’ran is our constitution/Jihad is our way/And death in the way of Allah is our promised end.” - Catholic News Agency  

Let them start their own schools if they must - privately, like Catholics have done for decades.

Share This

Authenticity. 

Today’s readings from Mass remind me of a post I did on the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi last week.  Not so much the post as the comments I have received regarding the Legion itself.  Today’s readings are all about hypocrisy and deception.  Read closely, Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians roundaboutly addresses issues of disingenuous motivation on the part of some evangelists in the Church, by explaining what the Apostles were not.

Paul stresses that their exhortations and teaching were not  “from delusion or impure motives, nor did it work through deception.”  (And he might well have added, through coercion.)  Neither were they trying to please men with flattering, obsequious speech, or under any pretext, no matter how holy in appearance, which could cloak greed.  Nor did they seek praise and honor from men or the established institutions of men.  It is a good lesson in discernment for us.

From a recent comment to this blog.

I want to post the latest comment (today) I received in response to my post about the Legion of Christ, it kind of ties in with today’s readings and things I have been pondering over the past few days as regards religious deception.  The comment:

“I was a member of this movement Regnum Christi for 6 years. I can only say that they ARE the wolves in sheep’s clothing of our Holy Church, and a stain and a blight to Her more than any other religious movement in the RCC. In one “discernment” weekend they almost managed to destroy my daughter, by convincing her that unless she joined the consecrated branch, she was being “mean” with God. She is tormented to this day with irrational fear and guilt from being subjected to that brainwashing over a period of a few months. They create clones of each other, and subject their members to immense psychological guilt. But those that are in it can not see it. They paint such a wholesome orthodox picture to outsiders, but within they are empty, carbon copies of one another. They are whitened sepulchres, and their wickedness is that of the pharisees, but worse because they are truly destroying young and innocent souls in the effort to create a “kingdom” that is all about appearances , power and money. It is NOT about saving souls. I have spoken to many priests in confession because of the guilt I feel, because as a faithful orthodox Catholic, I have to confront this horror and shock people with this truth. It IS a cult. May God in His mercy purge His church of this plague.  - Maria”

I don’t know anymore than what people such as this woman and others have said concerning the Legionairies; their personal experiences along with what is posted on the ReGAIN website.  My intention is not to discredit any particular group in the Church but to emphasize that all of us need to be much more discerning in our faith.  That’s all.

Share This

What true devotion really is. 

I still can’t get over the story about the state of her soul, revealed in her letters to her confessor and spiritual director…

Share This

St. Monica

I have always wondered why St. Monica was deemed the patron saint of alcoholics - yet never was interested enough to find out.  Fr. Zuhlsdorf has the story.  Although it doesn’t sound as if she was a big drinker - she just avoided alcoholism, as the post indicates.

“Mammoni” - it means “mama’s boy” in Italian.*

I must admit I have never had a particular devotion to St. Monica or her son, but not everyone has a special devotion to every saint.  (In other words, I don’t have a statue or medal of them, or make novenas and recite daily prayers in their honor.  Sorry, I do have a 1st class relic of Monica and Augustine - they are in a calendar reliquary.)  Of course, I have a general devotion, and I enjoy reading about them; I hear Augustine wrote rather well - I’m kidding! 

(I’ll bet Augustine’s mistress didn’t get along well with the mother.)

“Prosit!”

*Mammoni - it’s not necessarily a derogatory term - and I don’t mean it as such.  In fact it is still rather common in Italy.  It’s really kind of nice. 

Share This